Photos and artifacts from mostly forgotten and mostly Bay Area rock venues of the 1960s and early 70s

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Washington at Murphy, Sunnyvale, CA: Wayne Manor 1966-67

How popular was ABC-TV's Batman show? While it only ran for two and a half seasons (Jan 12, 1966 to March 14, 1968), it was on twice a week for most of its run. It rapidly went from hip to camp to passe. When it was popular, however, it was a huge hit, in an era when there were only three TV channels, so its appeal cut a wide swath.

By the middle of 1966, there was a club in Sunnyvale called Wayne Manor, designed to look like the "Bat Cave" from the TV show. Mind you, this club sold drinks and was intended for adults. It was successful enough to stay open at least into the middle of 1967. I don't know exactly when the club closed, but the Batman show ended in early 1968, so I'm sure the club had closed or changed its name by then.

The top ad is from the July 22, 1966 edition of the San Mateo Times, and the lower one is from the October 21, 1966 San Mateo Times. Sunnyvale is the town just South of Mountain View, which in turn is just South of Palo Alto. Washington and Murphy is roughly between El Camino Real and Central Expressway (Alma), next to Los Altos Town Center and the train station (now the Cal Train station). Since there isn't a precise address, I can't say if the building is still standing.

Sometimes you will see 60s South Bay musicians refer to this club, although they usually call it "The Bat Cave." According to the San Mateo Times (October 21, 1966), the owner or manager of the club was named Joe Lewis. I believe Emilio Castilio's first band, The Gotham City Crimefighters, were regularly featured here, before he formed The Motowns, who then evolved into Tower of Power. In the various ads I have seen for the club, the only group I have heard of is The Music Machine, who were scheduled to play on October 25, 1966 (they were mentioned in a notice, but not in the weekly advertisement above).

17 comments:

A hunt around has shown up a number of different lists of performers - the Wiki entry (and others) shows up Big Brother and the Holding Company as playing which seems unlikely to me as Janis Joplin had departed after a show on December 1, 1968 and the band played only a handful of shows over the following year.

In fact, when Joe Lewis created Wayne Manor, he wasn't inspired by the Batman TV show but by the DC comic book. I know because I was there. Lewis, who owned Wayne Manor, got the idea from his 11-year-old son who was a big fan of the Batman comic book. Lewis had opened Whiskey A-Go-Go in an old bank building he had purchased on South Murphy and was looking to relaunch the club with a new concept. His son naively told him to "make it about Batman" and he was smart enough to adopt the theme before the Batman craze hit. He toyed with naming the club "The Bat Cave" or "Wayne Manor" and chose the latter because it seemed to fit the old bank building's architecture. Some months later, the TV show became a hit and Batman-mania swept the country. Life Magazine even featured a picture of the club in its issue on the Batman craze. A pretty big deal for the city of Sunnyvale. Lewis was clever enough to capitalize on the publicity and even brought a measure to the City Council to change Sunnyvale's name to Gotham City. Naturally, that made all the papers resulting in lots of free publicity for Wayne Manor.

The building no longer stands, having been razed in preparation for the Sunnyvale Town Center construction.

You mention some of the artists who played there, but don't forget Creedence Clearwater Revival, Dobey Grey, and Johnny Rivers.

Many of the performers were soul acts. Lewis was committed to civil rights and brought a lot of African-American performers to Wayne Manor including Jackie Wilson and Sly Stone. I remember one night the headline act was The Coasters (or was it The Platters?) I honestly can't remember. I was only 11 at the time and my father had invited me to his club, just a little kid with a Batman comic book in his back pocket.

Wow--what an amazing story. I have only recently discovered the details about Sly and The Family Stone playing at Wayne Manor (May 2-21, 1967). I know that the drummer Frosty sat in with them at least once during that time (Lee Michaels' guy). Its very interesting to here about Creedence as well (under the name The Golliwogs, I presume?).

Can I pick your brains about the reference to "Whisky A Go-Go?" Do you mean that in general, or that it was actually called the Whisky A Go Go at some early point?

It was actually called Whiskey A-Go-Go. My father got the franchise and decided to open it in Sunnyvale rather than the more likely San Francisco or San Jose. That was a big deal for Sunnyvale back in the day. I'm in the midst of doing some research on both Whiskey A-Go-Go and Wayne Manor and will be glad to share what I learn.

I'm not sure about whether it was the Golliwogs are just John Fogarty and others or what. What I was told was "it was Creedence before they were Creedence". I'll see if I can get more hard information that.

I'm trying to write a story on the importance of Wayne Manor and Whiskey A-Go-Go to the revitalizatin of downtown Sunnyvale. Can you share any information you have? For instance, dates of operation, key acts who played there, and any impact it might have had on Sunnyvale or the local music scene? My email is garthl@live.com

I will try and pull some more bits together - but my current list (a few months old) is as follows: Opened - Early February 1966 seemingly.07 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings08 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings09 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings10 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings11 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings12 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings13 June 1966 14 June 1966 The Prime Minisiters15 June 1966 The Prime Minisiters16 June 1966 The Prime Minisiters17 June 1966 The Prime Minisiters18 June 1966 The Prime Minisiters19 June 1966 The Prime Minisiters20 June 1966 21 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings22 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings23 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings24 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings25 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings26 June 1966 Sandy and The Vikings27 June 1966 28 June 1966 The Prime Minisiters29 June 1966 The Prime Minisiters30 June 1966 The Prime Minisiters01 July 1966 The Prime Minisiters02 July 1966 The Prime Minisiters03 July 1966 The Prime Minisiters04 July 1966 05 July 1966 The Persuaders06 July 1966 The Persuaders07 July 1966 The Persuaders08 July 1966 The Persuaders09 July 1966 The Persuaders10 July 1966 The Persuaders11 July 1966 12 July 1966 The Persuaders13 July 1966 The Persuaders14 July 1966 The Persuaders15 July 1966 The Persuaders16 July 1966 The Persuaders17 July 1966 The Persuaders18 July 1966 19 July 1966 20 July 1966 21 July 1966 22 July 1966 23 July 1966 24 July 1966 25 July 1966 Ladies Night26 July 1966 Sandy and The Vikings27 July 1966 Sandy and The Vikings28 July 1966 Sandy and The Vikings29 July 1966 Sandy and The Vikings30 July 1966 Sandy and The Vikings31 July 1966 Sandy and The Vikings01 August 1966 Ladies Night02 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters03 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters04 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters05 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters06 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters07 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters08 August 1966 Ladies Night09 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters10 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters11 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters12 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters13 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters14 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters15 August 1966 Ladies Night16 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters17 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters18 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters19 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters20 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters21 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters22 August 1966 Ladies Night23 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters24 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters25 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters26 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters27 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters28 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters29 August 1966 Ladies Night30 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters31 August 1966 The Prime Minisiters01 September 1966 The Prime Minisiters02 September 1966 The Prime Minisiters03 September 1966 The Prime Minisiters04 September 1966 The Prime Minisiters05 September 1966 Ladies Night06 September 1966 The Prime Minisiters07 September 1966 The Prime Minisiters08 September 1966 The Prime Minisiters09 September 1966 The Prime Minisiters10 September 1966 The Prime Minisiters11 September 1966 The Prime Minisiters12 September 1966 Ladies Night13 September 1966 Gino Dentie Amen Blues14 September 1966 Gino Dentie Amen Blues15 September 1966 Gino Dentie Amen Blues16 September 1966 Gino Dentie Amen Blues17 September 1966 Gino Dentie Amen Blues18 September 1966 Gino Dentie Amen Blues19 September 1966 Ladies Night20 September 1966 The Aliens21 September 1966 The Aliens22 September 1966 The Aliens23 September 1966 The Aliens24 September 1966 The Aliens25 September 1966 The Aliens26 September 1966 Ladies Night27 September 1966 The Aliens28 September 1966 The Aliens29 September 1966 The Aliens30 September 1966 The Aliens

Part 2 of Performance List:01 October 1966 The Aliens02 October 1966 The Aliens03 October 1966 Ladies Night04 October 1966 The Thunderbirds05 October 1966 The Thunderbirds06 October 1966 The Thunderbirds07 October 1966 The Thunderbirds08 October 1966 The Thunderbirds09 October 1966 The Thunderbirds10 October 1966 Ladies Night11 October 1966 The Thunderbirds12 October 1966 The Thunderbirds13 October 1966 The Thunderbirds14 October 1966 The Thunderbirds15 October 1966 The Thunderbirds16 October 1966 The Thunderbirds17 October 1966 Ladies Night18 October 1966 The Thunderbirds19 October 1966 The Thunderbirds20 October 1966 The Thunderbirds21 October 1966 The Thunderbirds22 October 1966 The Thunderbirds23 October 1966 The Thunderbirds24 October 1966 Ladies Night25 October 1966 Music Machine26 October 1966 Music Machine27 October 1966 Music Machine28 October 1966 Music Machine29 October 1966 Music Machine30 October 1966 Music Machine31 October 1966 Ladies Night01 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 02 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 03 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 04 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 05 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 06 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 07 November 1966 Ladies Night08 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 09 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 10 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 11 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 12 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 13 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 14 November 1966 Ladies Night15 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 16 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 17 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 18 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 19 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 20 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 21 November 1966 Ladies Night22 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 23 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 24 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 25 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 26 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 27 November 1966 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 28 November 1966 Ladies Night29 November 1966 The Secrets30 November 1966 The Secrets01 December 1966 The Secrets02 December 1966 The Secrets03 December 1966 The Secrets04 December 1966 The Secrets05 December 1966 Ladies Night06 December 1966 The Secrets07 December 1966 The Secrets08 December 1966 The Secrets09 December 1966 The Secrets10 December 1966 The Secrets11 December 1966 The Secrets12 December 1966 Ladies Night13 December 1966 The Secrets14 December 1966 The Secrets15 December 1966 The Secrets16 December 1966 The Secrets17 December 1966 The Secrets18 December 1966 The Secrets19 December 1966 Ladies Night20 December 1966 21 December 1966 22 December 1966 23 December 1966 24 December 1966 25 December 1966 26 December 1966 27 December 1966 Dobie Gray28 December 1966 Dobie Gray29 December 1966 Dobie Gray30 December 1966 Dobie Gray31 December 1966 Dobie Gray

And part 3:01 January 1967 Dobie Gray02 January 1967 Ladies Night03 January 1967 Rivera Brothers04 January 1967 Rivera Brothers05 January 1967 Rivera Brothers06 January 1967 Rivera Brothers07 January 1967 Rivera Brothers08 January 1967 Rivera Brothers09 January 1967 Rivera Brothers10 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers11 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers12 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers13 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers14 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers15 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers16 January 1967 Rivera Brothers17 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers18 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers19 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers20 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers21 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers22 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers23 January 1967 Rivera Brothers24 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers25 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers26 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers27 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers28 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers29 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers30 January 1967 Rivera Brothers31 January 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers01 February 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers02 February 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers03 February 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers04 February 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers05 February 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers06 February 1967 Rivera Brothers07 February 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers08 February 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers09 February 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers10 February 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers11 February 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers12 February 1967 Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers13 February 1967 Rivera Brothers14 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 15 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 16 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 17 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 18 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 19 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 20 February 1967 Rivera Brothers21 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 22 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 23 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 24 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 25 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 26 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 27 February 1967 Rivera Brothers28 February 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 01 March 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 02 March 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 03 March 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 04 March 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 05 March 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 06 March 1967 Rivera Brothers07 March 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 08 March 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 09 March 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 10 March 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 11 March 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 12 March 1967 The Persuaders with Joanne Vent 13 March 1967 Rivera Brothers

also28 March 1967 Sly and The Family Stone29 March 1967 Sly and The Family Stone30 March 1967 Sly and The Family Stone31 March 1967 Sly and The Family Stone1 April 1967 Sly and The Family Stone2 April 1967 Sly and The Family Stone

The Big Brother show certainly never happed. I have listed what I know of on the web site and included any ads, press clipping etc. that I have. I only go as far as March 1967 at present, but will add Corry's updates. I have not written an introduction yet - perhaps Garth could help out. I was also wondering if their were any outside or inside photographs available at all.

A couple of points about the updates - May 27, 1967 was a Saturday and books ran Tuesday through Sunday with the Monday nights initially "Ladies Nights" and later the Rivera Brothers playing. So are we sure about the 27th rather than the 28th? Secondly, would you agree that Sam The Soul and Bonnie Lynn are likely to be Disc Jockey and some sort of dancer?

I'm sure you are right about the 28th rather than the 27th. I was presuming from some sort of SF Chron press release that probably said something like "coming this weekend."

I'm sure you are right about Sam The Soul being a dj, but a lot of these Go Go type clubs also had a featured female "lounge/R&B" type singer (such as The Joel Scott Hill Trio with Joni Lyman). I wonder whether Bonnie Lynn, whomever she might have been, had her own group or was backed by some members of The Family Stone.

Hey, didn't Bonnie Bramlett call herself Bonnie Lynn (she was born Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell)? She had moved to California by 1967, and was already a former Ikette. Just a thought.

Stunning recollection Corry - Sam The Soul and Bonnie Lynn it seems were a duo - and this must have been right before they went down the coast to LA and ended up on the bill at one of the last shows played by Delaney and his Shindogs (at the Carolina Lanes bowling alley in Inglewood - near LAX). I understand that Delaney and Bonnie were married about a week later. Great catch.

I have a photo of the Persuaders too, Dale Loyola and Dennis Provisor went on to join Buddy Sklar and Bobby Arlin in the Hook. Provisor had a brief spell in the later incarnation of the Peanut Butter Conspiracy, circa 1969/70.